66 The Complete Angler 



thrive to be big ; that breeds very many more than 

 others do, that be of a larger size : which you may 

 rather believe, if you consider that the little wren and 

 titmouse will have twenty young ones at a time, 

 when, usually, the noble hawk, or the musical 

 thrassel or blackbird, exceed not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch 

 a Trout; and at my next walking, either this 

 evening or to-morrow morning, I will give you 

 direction how you yourself shall fish for him. 



VENATOR. Trust me, master, I see now it is a 

 harder matter to catch a Trout than a Chub ; for I 

 have put on patience, and followed you these two 

 hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither at your minnow 

 nor your worm. 



PlSCATOR. Well, scholar, you must endure worse 

 luck sometime, or you will never make a good 

 angler. But what say you now ? there is a Trout 

 now, and a good one too, if I can but hold him ; 

 and two or three turns more will tire him. Now 

 you see he lies still, and the sleight is to land him : 

 reach me that landing-net. So, Sir, now he is mine 

 own : what say you now, is not this worth all my 

 labour and your patience ? 



VENATOR. On my word, master, this is a gallant 

 Trout ; what shall we do with him ? 



PlSCATOR. Marry, e'en eat him to supper : we'll 

 go to my hostess from whence we came ; she told 

 me, as I was going out of door, that my brother 

 Peter, a good angler and a cheerful companion, had 

 sent word he would lodge there to-night, and bring 

 a friend with him. My hostess has two beds, and 

 I know you and I may have the best : we'll rejoice 

 with my brother Peter and his friend, tell tales, or 

 sing ballads, or make a catch, or find some harmless 

 sport to content us, and pass away a little time 

 without offence to God or man. 



